A New Life

Chapter 5: A Chance

The walk to the detention cell wasn't extremely exciting either; boring grey walls with simple lighting between each panel. I would occasionally see stormtroopers walking in pairs, with their pristine and polished white armour, or higher ranking officers sporting different uniforms and plaques depending on their placing in the ranks. It was all cold; the walls of the facility itself, the stares I got from the Imperials in uniforms. Even the stormtroopers when I saw their helmet tilt slightly to get a good look at me. I've never had this much attention on me before. I try to let it go.

When we arrived at the cell, one of the troopers talk for the first time.

"I'm going to search you, do you have any weapons or tools you shouldn't have?" It was a male voice who I'm guessing is around his thirties, though the helmet distorts his voice a little, making it robotic almost. Ironic. That's how I view them; faceless and robotic troopers who serve the Empire. They trade in personality for protocol, warmth for coldness. They hide from their true identity and personality under their helmets. It was a slight shock to remember there was someone under there. I think back to the question he asked me; No. I didn't have any other weapons, but I didn't feel like answering him because I knew no matter if I said yes or no he would search me either way. 

"Alright then." He replies, slight suspicion in his voice. Once he finishes his search, he pauses for a moment to grab something from his utility belt before turning back to me. He then grabs the handcuffs binding my wrists. I'm confused for a moment before I feel the tightness of the cuffs receding and realise he's taking them off. 

... Now's my chance... The moment my second hand is free, I tear my arms from the troopers' grip and back up into him as hard as I can. He is knocked back into the other trooper who hits the wall with a loud thud. I notice the second trooper slide to the ground and drop their blaster in my peripheral vision. I'm surprised he got knocked out that easily.

"Hey!" He yells as he stumbles to the side.  I quickly turn around and dive for the dropped blaster while he regains stability. Just as I have the blaster in my hand, he shoots. I try to dodge the shot but it slightly grazes my arm, burning away a part of my jacket. I then release my own fire, making sure that the blaster was in stun. I want to get out of here, but I'm not ready to take any lives yet. 

I manage to stun the trooper in the chest, just as he was about to lift his blaster to fire back. I watch as he falls to his knees, and then onto the ground, his armour hitting the floor with a clank. I slowly inhale and exhale, getting up off my knees and looking down both sides of the corridor. I slightly chuckle to myself.

... I did say I wasn't going to be difficult... Yet. But yet is over, and now I have to get out of here for good before that Agent comes back... I start walking down the many corridors of the Imperial Complex, careful not to make any more noise or run into anyone. The small fight with the two troopers was loud enough for the whole prison section to hear. As I continue down the corridors I realise have no idea where I'm going; corridor after corridor, skipping past the ones that echo a voice. I turn right and continue down a corridor after I quickly pass one with troopers coming my way. As I'm about to turn right into the only remaining corridor, I hear voices and footsteps coming from there.

... Oh no! No no no!... I'm trapped! I frantically look around for any exits or small hatches I could slide into. I look up and spot a vent, but it's way too high for me to reach from down here. I look down the corridors again, the panic in my chest increasing. The voices in front of me are getting even closer, close enough that I can see their shadows. I look to the right and notice a hatch that reads 'Stormtrooper Corps Storeroom' I quickly smack the button to open the hatch and slip through, closing the hatch just before the voices come around the corner. I slide down the wall, wiping my hand across my forehead.

...Phew that was a close one...